Fatburger launching 40 locations across Florida
The franchisee's Fatburger empire in the Sunshine State has been growing since 2021 after it completed a deal to open 14 restaurants in the Orlando and Tampa areas. Restaurants have already opened in Riverview and Celebration, a suburb close to Walt Disney World . Others slated to open through 2026 are in Orlando, Orange Park, and Rockledge.
'Two years ago, Fatburger made its return to the state of Florida after a 20-year absence, and we are not looking back,' said Taylor Wiederhorn, Co-CEO and chief development officer at Fatburger. 'Our Riverview and Celebration locations have exceeded expectations with an incredible fanbase that loves our cooked-to-order burgers, fries, and hand-scooped milkshakes.'
Founded in 1947, the California-based restaurant chain operates over 200 restaurants worldwide, and in 16 states across the US. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Nicki Minaj have been Fatburger customers despite Whataburger, In-N-Out and Five Guys' high rankings on a list of the top burger chains in the US .
The new deal comes after the chain's parent company suffered a 6.5 percent revenue decline during the first quarter of this year. Other major burger chains are also expanding. Whataburger currently has over 1,100 restaurants nationwide and recently opened its first North Carolina location.
In-N-Out Burger is currently the nation's top burger chain owned by its founder's granddaughter Lynsi Snyder. The cult favorite chain typically brings in around $2 billion in annual revenue from over 400 restaurants, primarily in the western US. With its popularity on the rise, the chain that was once praised by late food expert Anthony Bourdain is planning to open at least seven restaurants in four states this year.
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